9 POINTS TO A GOOD LINE GRAPH

Transcription

1 NAME: PD: DATE: 9 POINTS TO A GOOD LINE GRAPH Independent Variable on the HORIZONTAL (X) AXIS RANGE DIVIDED BY SPACES and round up to nearest usable number to spread out across the paper. LABELED with type of measurement and units. 2. Dependent Variable on the VERTICAL (Y) AXIS RANGE DIVIDED BY SPACES and round up to nearest usable number to spread out across the paper. LABELED with type of measurement and units. To find the Range 3. Start your numbering with your smallest number in the range and of your data take end it with the largest number in the range. the largest number and subtract the 4. Points plotted ACCURATELY smallest number 5. Points CONNECTED with a smooth curve or straight line. 6. KEY or LEGEND if you are drawing more than one line. 7. Have a Descriptive TITLE at the top of the page. 8. Every graph should have your NAME, DATE, and Period. 9. NEATNESS makes a big difference in a graph. Using "Microsoft EXCEL-2013" to make a line graph on the PC 1) Open EXCEL 2) Label the columns according to your graph. Your Independent Variable should be in Column A, Row 1. Your Dependent Variable should be in Column B, Row 1. Examples: Usable # s If this is a Multi-Line graph, the next dependent variable should be placed in the next Column 3) Enter the data from your data table. 4) Hold down the Left Mouse Button and drag over your data AND column labels, to select what you want to plot. 5) Go to the Insert TAB > Charts > Scatter and choose one of the two that have both Point markers and lines. Racchini /6

2 6) Go to the Design TAB and click on Move Chart Location. Select the location As New Sheet for your graph. 7) Click OK. 8) Go to the Page Layout TAB > Orientation > Choose Portrait (When the Dependent Data has a bigger range) or Choose Landscape (When the Independent Data has a bigger range) 9) Continue On the Page Layout TAB > Margins > Custom Margins 10) Under the Header/Footer Tab, click on the Custom Header button. 11) Enter your Name, Period, and Date into one of the sections, and then click OK. (Your name date and period will only be seen in Print Preview) 12) Click Ok. 13) Go to View TAB > and click on the 100% button. (This makes the graph easier to work with) Racchini /6

3 14) Go back to the Design TAB and choose Add Chart Element. 15) In the drop down menu that appears, complete each of the following task: I. In Axes > First make sure both options are selected then Click More Axis Options a. For the Minimum: enter the Lowest Independent Variable value from your Data Table. (In most cases, it is best to leave a small space around your graph. To do this enter one whole unit less than your lowest value. Example: if lowest value is 3.67 then enter 3 as your minimum) b. For the Maximum and enter the Highest Independent Variable value from your Data Table. (In most cases, it is best to leave a small space around your graph. To do this enter one whole unit more than your highest value. Example: if highest value is then enter 12 as your maximum) c. Now click on the drop down arrow next to Axis Options > choose Vertical (Value) Axis d. Repeat steps a & b but this time for the Dependent Variable. II. In Axis Titles > make sure both Primary Horizontal and Primary Vertical options are selected. a. To edit the titles: simply double click on the axis title and type. b. Label the x-axis with WHAT it represents and the UNITS it was measured in. i. For example: Time (hours) or Speed in Miles per Hour Racchini /6

4 III. In Chart Title > click Above Chart a. To edit the Chart title: simply double click on it and type. b. Give the graph an appropriate title that best describes the experiment IV. In Data Labels > Click None V. In Error Bars > Click None. VI. In Gridlines > Make sure all options are selected (Primary Major Horizontal, Primary Major Vertical, Primary Minor Horizontal, and Primary Minor Vertical). VII. VIII. In Legend > Select Top In Trendline > Click None. 16) Go to the Format TAB 17) In the drop down menu on the left, Choose Chart Area, then click the Format Selection Button. 18) Under Fill > Select No Fill 19) Under Border Color > Select No Line 20) Again on the Format TAB: On the Right side of the screen Adjust the Height and Width of the Graph: a) If Graph is Portrait then adjust the Height to 9 and the Width to 7 b) If the graph is Landscape then adjust the Height to 7 and the Width to 9 Racchini /6

5 Optional Formatting for Multiple Line Graphs If you have a multiple line graph and the markers are too similar to each other, you might want to change the markers: 21) Go To the Format TAB 22) In the drop down menu on the left, select the 1 st line on your graph. It will be called a Series 23) Click the Format Selection Button. 24) Click the Fill and Line button (It looks like a paint bucket) 25) Choose Marker a) Adjust the Fill Color and Border Color to make it stand out from the rest of the lines on the graph b) Then choose Marker Options > Built-in Button > and choose a new Type and Size. 26) If you have another line on the graph then choose it from the drop down menu on the left side of the Format TAB. It also will be called a Series and then click the Format Selection Button. 27) Repeat steps 24, 25 & 26 until all the lines on your graph have been formatted and appear different from one another. To Print Your Graph: 28) Make sure your graph is on the screen (Choose the Chart sheet at the bottom) 29) Then Click File > Print > a) Make sure your name date and period appear in the preview. b) Under Settings > Make sure Print Active Sheets is selected 30) Click Print Racchini /6

6 To Save Your Graph: 31) Click File > SAVE AS > EXCEL WORKBOOK (If you choose anything else your graph may not be viewable on all computers at school or your home computer) 32) Open your folder on the H: Drive (It is the one with Your USERNAME.) 33) Give the file an appropriate name, and click SAVE. The formatted example graph is printed on the back of this page. Racchini /6